Thimble Islands and Rail & Sail 25

Day 1

Welcome Aboard! Settle back, relax and enjoy a leisurely drive to the southern seacoast of Connecticut for a fun "New Tour" get-away! Upon our arrival in Mystic, Connecticut, enjoy some leisure time at Olde Mistick Village, a recreated picturesque 18th-century New England town with small independent shops, boutiques, restaurants and more. Later we are treated to a delicious dinner at a local restaurant after checking into the Hampton Inn for the next two nights.

Day 2

After breakfast we depart for the Mystic Seaport Museum. The nation's largest maritime museum, Mystic Seaport Museum includes a re-creation of a 19th-century seafaring community. Here you can climb aboard a tall ship, visit period homes and shops, view collections of marine art and artifacts, and enjoy demonstrations daily. Your Seaport visit is a self-guided tour with docents throughout the Seaport to answer questions. Lunch is on your own at the casual Galley Restaurant. Following lunch, we depart for Essex, Connecticut for a train and boat excursion. First, we board the Essex Steam Train for a ride through the picturesque countryside of the Connecticut River Valley. Next, we enjoy a "Becky Thatcher" riverboat cruise on the Connecticut River where we will pass the hilltop castle built by actor William Gillette and the Goodspeed Opera House. Before returning to our hotel for a good night's sleep, we are treated to a delicious dinner at the historic Griswold Inn, located in the picturesque and historic seaport village of Essex. One of the oldest continuously operated Inns in the country, the Griswold Inn opened its doors for business in 1776. The Inn exudes the charm and character of days gone by, all while serving up classic American cuisine.

Day 3

After breakfast we depart for Branford, Connecticut. Upon our arrival, we join the Captain and the crew of the "Sea Mist" for a delightful, narrated cruise to the Thimble Islands. The archipelago of islands was actually hilltops before the last ice age. Called "The Beautiful Sea Rocks," by the Mattabeseck Indians, the Thimble Islands are formed of pink granite rocks, ledges, and outcroppings, and are estimated to number between 100 and 365 depending on how you differentiate between an island and a rocky outcropping. First discovered in 1614 by Adrien Block, these islands were used for everything from farming to quarrying granite, from bootlegging to hiding Captain Kidd's treasure. Today some of the wooded islands are topped with beautiful summer cottages built during the Victorian Era-complete with gingerbread trimmings. Following our cruise settle back and enjoy a movie on our drive home, while reminiscing about our "New Tour" get-away, full of fun and entertaining attractions on the southern seacoast of Connecticut!

B=Breakfast, D =Dinner